Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)

CONDITION

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is a term used to describe the collection of symptoms which affect the storage and voiding of urine. They may be caused by disorders of the bladder, bladder neck, urinary sphincter, urethra, the adjacent pelvic floor or pelvic organs. In men the prostate gland is commonly involved also.

Storage LUTS, also known as irritative LUTS, include symptoms of urinary frequency (the need to pass urine often during the day), urinary urgency (sudden, compelling desire to pass urine which is difficult to defer), nocturia (the need to pass urine during the night) and urge urinary incontinence (involuntary leakage of urine associated with urinary urgency).

Voiding LUTS, also known as obstructive LUTS, include difficulty initiating the flow of urine, passing a slow and intermittent flow, having to strain in order to pass urine, difficulty emptying the bladder and spraying of urine during your flow along with unwanted dribbling at the end or even once finished.

Your consultation will involve a careful history, examination and initial investigations, such as urine flow tests, post-void bladder scan and urine testing, which may help identify the cause of your LUTS. Sometimes further investigations such as an ultrasound of your kidneys and bladder, a flexible cystoscopy or urodynamic testing may be required.